Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Heritage on the Wing
By Lorie Steiner
Stepping through the doors of the vast hangar housing the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, one can’t help but be awe-struck. The atmosphere is hushed, as if the past is silently catching up with the present – igniting both curiosity and respect. Taking in the sheer scale of the aircraft on display is a jaw-dropping experience for young and old. If it’s your first visit, one thing’s for sure, it won’t be your last!
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum was founded as a non-profit in 1972 with a mandate to acquire, document, preserve and maintain a complete collection of aircraft flown by Canadians and the Canadian military from the beginning of World War II to the present day. Over the years, a dedicated team of staff and hundreds of volunteers have given their time and expertise to this labour of love. Today, the Museum is the proud home of almost 50 aircraft, an extensive aviation Gift Shop and an ever-evolving Exhibit Gallery.
The Lancaster legacy
Probably the most famous Allied bomber of the Second World War, the Avro Lancaster literally roars when its four 1145 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin X engines come to life. You can’t miss the iconic sound when it flies overhead. The RAF’s only heavy bomber capable of carrying the 12,000 lb “Tallboy” and 22,000 lb “Grand Slam” bombs, the Lancaster won a place in history with the daring bombing raids on the Ruhr Dams in May 1943 and the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz in November 1944.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster” – one of only two still flying in the world and the only one to take passengers – is dedicated to the memory of P/O Andrew Mynarski and painted in his KB726 – VR-A aircraft colours. Mynarski flew with RCAF No. 419 “Moose” Squadron and was awarded the Victoria Cross on June 13, 1944, when his Lancaster was shot down by a German night fighter. As the bomber plummeted out of control, he worked to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing aircraft. The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from severe burns.
In the summer of 2014, the Museum undertook a mega feat, flying the Lancaster across the Atlantic to England to join the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster for a two-month tour. Millions of people throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland watched the two Lancs flying together and the entire trip was filmed for a documentary, “Reunion of Giants” that’s available on DVD. When you see the Lancaster, up close and personal, onsite at the Museum, it’s a ‘wow’ moment you won’t soon forget.
Interesting tidbits
The many Museum volunteers who work on aircraft restoration and maintenance have a wealth of information to pass along. They don’t mind being interrupted to answer questions and happily divulge some very intriguing knowledge. On a recent visit, I was checking out one of my favourites – the B-25 Mitchell bomber, sporting its spicy nose art painting of “Hot Gen”, when a tool-wielding gentleman came out from under the craft and asked, “Do you know about Hot Gen?” I told him not really, but I’d like to. “It’s a double entendre,” he explained. “Of course, it’s a ‘hot’ looking gal but it has another meaning. During World War II, wrong or inaccurate information was known in air force jargon as “Duff Gen” and the good stuff was “Hot Gen”. That’s what the image is really about.”
2024 Vintage Aircraft Flights
Get ready to soar! The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is the only place in the entire world where you can fly in a Lancaster, and many more vintage beauties including the Tiger Moth biplane, B-25 Mitchell bomber, D-Day veteran Dakota and PBY Canso. The ultimate aviation adventure, imagine yourself travelling through the clouds high above the GTA in one of these gems – certainly a thrill of a lifetime!
